REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 279
to count the number of times the hands were clapped.
The revival that had commenced at the camp-meeting,
was transferred to town, and many sinners were con-
verted.
Mooresville, in its early history, was a very wicked
place infested with drunkards, gamblers, infidels, &c.
Mr. Donnell sent an appointment to preach in the vil-
lage, and endeavored to make such preparation as he
supposed circumstances required ; but when the day
arrived, and he reached town, his mind was strongly
directed to the following text : " Eejoice, O young man,
in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days
of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and
in the sight of thine eyes ; but know thou, that for
all these things, God will bring thee into judgment."
(Eccl.xi: 9.) With much trembling and hesitation, he
changed his subject, but did not read the last clause of
the text till he had dwelt at some length on the first
part. For the first time in his life, he introduced wit
and humor into the pulpit. He alluded, in rather a
playtul manner, to the fashionable vices and sinful
amusements of the day ; and ironically told the young
people to indulge freely in them, and enjoy all the
pleasures they afforded. The audience threw off re-
straint, and indulged even feelings of levity. At length
the preacher paused for a moment, and then informed
the congregation that he had not yet read the whole
of his text, and repeated the last part of it. His feel-
ings suddenly reacted, carrying the congregation with
280 LIFE AND LABORS OF
him. The realities of the awful day of judgment were
depicted, and an appeal made that was irresistible.
The foregoing incident is stated on the authority of
the Eev. B. C. Chapman, who also relates the following:
Mr. Donnell, in the midst of an interesting revival of
religion, at Winchester, Tennessee, in 1829, was deeply
impressed to leave the meeting in charge of other min-
isters, and go to Fayetteville, a distance of twenty
miles, and commence a protracted meeting. He obeyed
the impression, and forthwith a powerful work of God
began at the latter town ; and before it closed, about
five hundred persons, in the village and surrounding
country, professed religion.
When Mr. Donnell and Dr. Burrow traveled together
as missionaries, in 1831, they agreed to preach turn-
about, with the understanding that if either should feel
unusually impressed with the duty of preaching, though
it might not be his day, he should make it known, and
the rule, by mutual consent, should be suspended. On
a certain day, it was Mr. Donnell's time to preach ; but
after entering the pulpit, he discovered that Dr. Bur-
row was extremely restless, and that his countenance
showed much anxiety of mind, On being asked by
Mr. Donnell if he did not desire to preach, he answered
he did. The books were immediately turned over to
him, and the effort satisfied both parties that heaven
approved the change. Dr. B. perhaps never before, nor
since, preached with more power. This incident was
received from the Eev. Isaac Shook.
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 281
While it is admitted, that impressions in reference to
religious duty, should be consulted with great caution,
and never reduced to practice without " trying the
spirits whether they are of G-od" (J. John iv : 1) yet
no one, who believes the Bible, can doubt the direct
influence of the Holy Ghost upon the mind, urging the
performance of some special duty. Without such belief
prayer would be useless, and the doctrine of being "led
by the Spirit of God," could have no meaning.
Dr. Payson rendered much attention to his "feelings,"
especially in connection with revivals of religion ; and
would sometimes tell his people that God was about to
revive His work, when there were no signs of a revival
visible.
36-
282 LIFE AND LABORS OF
CHAPTER XXV.
MR. DONNELL'S METHOD OF PREPARING FOR THE PULPIT,
WITH REFLECTIONS.
Statement of his Wife Had but little time to Write Sketched " Mis-
cellaneous Thoughts" while riding the Circuit Extemporaneous
Habits worthy of Imitatiou Reading Sermons an unnatural way
of Preaching Unwise to form the habit of committing Sermons to
Memory Anecdote of a young Preacher in London Mr. Donnell's
Sermons embodied Doctrine, Experience and Practice Let no
young Man think lightly of a Systematic Education, because Mr.
Donnell became great without it Let no one despair ot Usefulness
in his Master's Vineyard, because he cannot preach like Mr. Don-
nell.
The surviving wife of Mr. Donnell, says : " He read
much, yet thought much more than he read." And
here is the secret of the intellectual development of that
great man he thought much. Newton, on being asked
by what means he worked out his extraordinary dis-
coveries, replied : " By always thinking on them." In
relating his method of studying to another friend, he
said : " I keep the subject always before me."
Mrs. Donnell adds : "I have often known Mr. Don-
nell open a book, and read a few pages, then take a
pallet on the floor, cover his face, and spend hours in
thinking, and arranging a sermon. He would then lay
the discourse away in his mind, till occasion called for
it, when he would bring it forth as readily as if it had
been before him in manuscript." Mrs. Donnell further
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 283
states, that "he never, to her knowledge, used even brief
notes in the pulpit; nor does she think he made much
use of the pen in preparing his sermons." She regrets
that he did not write more ; but attributes the neglect
to his itinerant habits in the ministry. He was liter-
all}' an evangelist through life, being almost constantly
from home, in the service of the church. He has been
heard to say, that he prepared some of his best sermons
when traveling alone, on horseback.
Although it is true, as Mrs. Donnell states, that her
husband had but little time to write, yet specimens of
composition are found among his papers, which warrant
the belief, that practice would have placed in his hand
the pen of a "ready writer." Children learn to walk
by walking, and to run by running ; and so a good
writer, or able author, is the result of much writing.
Dr. Dick says : " The habit of accurate composition, de-
pends more on practice, and the study of good writers,
than on a multitude of rules." The late Professor Ed-
wards adds : " Habits of accurate composition are the
slow growth of time of long months' of hardy disci-
pline the result of many a painful process."
Mr. Donnell's " Miscellaneous Thoughts," as published
in 1831, in pamphlet form, and subsequently in a bound
volume, were mostly written, in brief notes, while riding
the circuit. He carried his ink, as heretofore stated, in
the head of his cane, and paper in his saddle-bags ; and
when a thought occurred, worthy of preservation, it
was reduced to writing. Thoughts, thus preserved,
284 LIFB AND LABORS OF
were revised and enlarged, while waiting on his first
wife, in her sickness at Medical Springs. When he
could be spared from her room, there was a certain log,
not far distant, under the shade of a tree, to which he
resorted, to study and write. This he stated in his own
last affliction.
Young preachers would do well to cultivate, at the
threshold of their work, Mr. Donnell's extemporaneous
habits in the pulpit. Eeading sermons, is an unnatural
way of preaching, and unadapted to the laws of the
human mind. It was introduced in England, under
circumstances that seemed to demand it at the time,
but which have long since passed away ; and the prac-
tice of reading, under the name of preaching, ought to
have gone with them. It was interdicted by King
Charles II, who pronounced it a " supine and slothful
way of preaching." The custom was unknown in the
Cumberland Presbyterian church, in her early history.
Her first preachers were off-hand men, ready for all
emergencies. Indeed, the practice would not have been
tolerated in the days of Ewing and his contemporaries.
I know, it may be said that ministers of other churches,
who have left a broad and deep impression on the world,
read their sermons. True, Dr. Chalmers read his ser-
mons ; but he was a reader, and his sermons were original
prepared with his audience before his imagination,
and steeped in his own heart before he entered the
pulpit. President Edwards also had the manuscript of
his sermons before him in the pulpit ; but he, too, was
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 285
an original writer, and extraordinary reader. It should
be remembered, however,_that he did not usually con-
fine himself to his manuscript ; but if a new thought
occurred, while preaching, he would present it : and it
generally had a better effect on his hearers than what
he read. It is a fact, too, that ought to be known, that
President Edwards regretted, at an advanced period
of his ministry, that he had accustomed himself to the
use of notes at all, and recommended young preachers
not to introduce them. It will be proper here to re-
mark, however, that while Mr. Edwards advised to
avoid one error, he recommended the adoption of an-
other : which was, to write and commit sermons to
memory. This would require more labor than any
preacher can bear, even in the vigor of manhood ; and
in old age, should he live to that period, it would oblige
him to give up preaching altogether. Besides, no man's
memory, even in youth, can be depended on for every
word and syllable in a written sermon ; and the slightest
mistake would always produce embarrassment, both
with the speaker and hearer.
A young preacher once visited London, with a letter
of introduction to the Eev. Matthew Wilkes. On read-
ing the letter, Mr. Wilkes said to the bearer: "Well,
young man, I suppose you want to preach in London ?"
He replied : " I am going to spend a few days here, sir,
and should like to give your people a sermon." " Well,
meet me next Wednesday morning, at the church, and
you can lecture in my place." The young man promptly
286 LIFE AND LABORS OF
attended, and darted along the aisle, into the pulpit, as
though he was entering a ball-room. The pastor took
his seat in the congregation. The introductory services
were performed with much apparent confidence, and
the young man then read his text ; but alas ! his manu-
script was not before him, and memory proved treach-
erous. Even the first sentence of the sermon could not
be recalled. He hesitated, and hemmed, then forced a
stout cough coughed again and again but memory
could not be awakened by a cough. He shut his Bible,
and left the pulpit in quite a different state of mind
from that in which he entered it. The pastor met him,
saying, " Well, young man, you have preached in the
city of London, and I have heard you heard every
word you said."
Let young preachers, if they have time, write out
every important sermon they deliver ; but never adopt
the method of either reading or committing, but by
prayerful meditation, make themselves familiar with
the leading ideas and arguments, and when they enter
the pulpit, depend on the spur of the moment for suita-
ble language. Never commit phraseology.
The matter of Mr. DonnelPs sermons generally em-
bodied doctrine, experience, and practice. They were
neither highly doctrinal, nor dryly practical ; but blended
the doctrine and practice of the Gospel with the affec-
tions and feelings of the heart. As he advanced in life,
having indoctrinated the churches planted by his min-
istry, he became more and more practical and experi-
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 287
mental in the pulpit. The following thoughts on the
importance of experimental and practical preaching,
are from his own pen :
" The most successful preaching, is experimental and
practical preaching. Men who preach experimentally,
preach to the heart, and commend themselves to every
man's conscience, in the sight of God. To tell what we
have felt, will have, more influence on others, than to
tell what we know. A simple narrative of a sinner's
conversion, may be found in the unvarnished story of
the man born blind. ' A man that is called Jesus, made
clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, Go wash in
the pool of Silome. I went, and washed, and I received
sight.' Our most successful ministers, and useful church
members, are those who tell what the Lord has done
for them. Many preachers, who have but little doc-
trinal skill, have been most successful in bringing sin-
ners to Christ. An infidel, who was warmly, and, as
he thought, strongly opposing an humble christian, met
with this resistance from the good man : ' If that is all
you have to say' placing his hand upon his heart 'I
have felt more here than all you have said.' The reply
proved the conversion of the infidel. May ministers all
practice what they preach, preach what they feel, feel
what they believe, and believe the truth."
Mr. Donnell did not regard the Gospel as a code of
ethical precepts, or a system of abstract truths addressed
merely to the intellect. He believed that religion ap-
peals as really and earnestly to all that feels in man, as
288 LIFE AND LABORS OP
it does to all that thinks. He also insisted that true re-
ligion was pre-eminently a system of action, as well as
doctrine and feeling : that it is one thing to speculate
and talk as a christian, and another to feel and live as a
christian.
It has already been stated, that Mr. Donnell was not
a classical scholar; but let no young man, having the
Gospel ministry in view, think lightly of a systematic
education, because men, like Mr. Donnell, have become
distinguished without it. Thus far, the Cumberland
Presbyterian church has known but one Robert Donnell.
By self-directed mental efforts, he arose to a degree of
eminence in his profession, that few preachers reach,
however great may have been their early opportunities
for literary improvement. It is more than probable,
that the best scholars of his day, on hearing him preach,
felt as did Dr. Owen, when he heard Bunyan for the
first time, namely, that he would freely exchange all
his literary advantages for Bunyan 's power in the pul-
pit to move an audience.
But let no young man despair of becoming useful in
his Master's vineyard, because he cannot wear Mr. Don-
nell's mantle. Luther said : " Our common Father has
need of all sorts of servants in His great family." All
work done for God is honorable. " The highest angel
has no prouder charge than that of the true disciples
sent to unloose the colt for Jesus to ride on." Let
every young preacher, however, aim high, and he will
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 289
be more likely to hit an elevated mark, than if he were
to aim at a low one. But let none decline to labor in
God's vineyard, because they do not possess the abilities
to work with which others have been blessed.
37
290 LIFE AND LABORS OF
CHAPTER XXVI.
LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH OF MR. DONNELD.
Extraordinary Effort at Bethlehem Camp-meeting His last Sermon,
November, 1853 "Valedictory to the World" His Letter to the
General Assembly at Lebanon The Assembly's Reply Interesting
Incidents in his last Illness Administration of the Lord's Supper
at his Residence His Prospects on the morning before his Death
Passes away in a Tranquil Slumber Funeral Services Erection of
a Monument to his Memory.
The last sickness of Mr. Donnell, was occasioned, it
is believed, by an extraordinary effort he made in the
pulpit, at a camp-meeting at Bethlehem, Madison county,
Ala,, on the fourth Sabbath of September, 1853. His
text was T. John v : 7, 8 " For there are three that
bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Ghost ; and these three are one ; and there are
three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the
water, and the blood ; and these three agree in one."
After reading the text, he said, that at the first camp-
meeting held at that place, many years ago, he had, on
Sabbath morning, preached from the same text ; that at
the close of that sermon, about fifty persons appeared
before the pulpit, upon their knees, as seekers of reli-
gion ; and he hoped that similar success would attend
the effort then about to be made.
The prime object of the discourse, was to prove that,
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 291
in Christ Jesus, there is eternal life for every sinner
that will accept of it. In sustaining this proposition,
he adduced the testimony of the three that bear record
in heaven : the Father, the Word, and Holy Ghost ;
and also from the three that bear witness in earth: the
spirit, and the water, and the blood, which agree in one.
He argued that, if there be life in Christ for one sinner,
there must be for every sinner. For,
1st. If God loved any fallen sinner, the cause of such
love existed in Himself; and that the same cause that
induced him to love one sinner, would induce him to
love every sinner, as all sustained the same relation to
him in their fallen federal head.
2. He also showed that the design of Christ's death
was to legalize the bestowment of life to every believing
sinner.
3. That every sinner, under the influence of the Holy
Ghost, has access to this life.
In the delivery of this sermon, Mr. Donnell's physical
labor was very great. He preached in the open air,
with a brisk wind blowing in his face all the time ; be-
sides, in consequence of a rain that had fallen the night
before, the atmosphere was damp, and hard to penetrate
so as to reach the large audience, without great exer-
tion of voice. The friends saw the difficulties under
which the speaker labored, and endeavored to protect
him from the wind, by hanging bed-clothes around the
pulpit which, however, only afforded partial relief.
He closed the discourse with an appeal which produced
292 LIFE AND LABORS OF
a happy effect upon the congregation ; but he was so
much exhausted, that it was deemed best for him to
return home the next morning. On his way, he was
exposed to a heavy shower of rain ; which, in connec-
tion with his previous day's labor, he regarded as fixing
the commencement of his last sickness. He informed
the Eev. M. H. Bone to whom I am indebted for the
foregoing items that he never felt well afterward.
That camp-meeting, I believe, was the last he ever
attended; and, owing to the state of his health, he
preached but seldom on ordinary occasions after that
meeting. On the second Sabbath of the following
October, he preached twice, feeble as he was, in Athens.
The following was his text in the morning : " Yea, I
think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir
you up by putting you in remembrance ; knowing that
shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our
Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me j moreover, I will
endeavor that ye may be able, after my decease, to have
these things always in remembrance." (II. Peter i :
13-15.)
This sermon was called, by those who heard it, his
funeral discourse. On the first Sabbath of the next
November, he preached the dedication sermon of his
own church, at Athens ; and on the third Sabbath of
the same month, he preached his last sermon. It was
at McCombs Cross Eoads, five miles south of Athens,
and on the occasion of the funeral of three very aged
christians ; the text being, " These all died in faith."
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 293
The following thoughts are supposed to be the last
he ever put on paper, without the aid of an amanuensis:
"VALEDICTORY TO THE WORLD.
" Being about to leave thee, my mother earth, I think
it meet and becoming, as one of thy sons, not to depart
without bidding thee farewell. You have opened your
bosom to nourish and afford me many blessings during
the last three-score and ten years. From you, I have
learned many lessons, that I trust will be of service to
me, in that far-oif land, to which I am going. You
have delighted my eyes with your beautiful scenery,
and gratified my taste with your generous fruits. You
once furnished a beautiful garden, in which were placed
my eldest brother and sister; and in your bosom lie
many of my dearest personal friends.
" I remember, with pleasure, the many blessings you
have bestowed so bountifully upon your children ; and
also that, on your bosom, many tears of bitter anguish
have fallen, and many sad changes have marred your
beauty. You are now getting old, like myself, and
must one day disappear.
" Soon you must furnish me a resting-place in one of
your valleys. Your flowers will bloom around me, but
I shall see them not. Your streams, as they pass, may
offer a lullaby, but I shall hear them not. Your sun,
moon, and stars, will all continue to shine upon your
hills and valleys, but I shall heed them not.
"And now, my mother earth, before parting with
you, I would ask that you be kind to my younger
294 LIFE AND LABORS OF
brethren, as you have been to me. They will also soon
leave you, as I shall shortly do ; but when the mighty
trumpet shall sound, and the last fires are kindled to
burn thee up, we shall all return, to witness thy last
day. Till then, farewell !
"R. DONNELL."
During the long affliction of Mr. Donnell, religion,
and the interests and prosperity of the church, were
the absorbing topics of his conversation ; and, with the
aid of an amanuensis, he occasionally reduced thoughts
to writing, that he supposed might be of use to his
brethren. The following was addressed to the General
Assembly, in session at Lebanon, Tennessee, but a short
time before his death :
" Athens, Ala., May 8, 1855.
"To the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church, to meet at Lebanon, Tenn., Tuesday,
the 15th day of May, 1855 :
" Dear Brother ; -Permit me to address you, per-
haps for the last time, and through you, the body over
which you preside. I feel like I have served my day
and generation, and will likely soon fall asleep, and
close my thoughts and efforts for the church, that has
so long employed my mind.
"Although of no distinction in the world, I have,
perhaps, been raised up to aid in the commencement
and advancement of a conservative church, which
seems to have taken root downward, and is bearing
fruit upward. I lived before her separate organization,
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 295
and was with her all through her subsequent trials, and
am now about to leave her, as I hope, in a prosperous
state. Her moral, literary and theological character,
seems now to be established. I long had my fears that
she would fail to carry out fully the designs of Heaven
in raising her up ; but now, when about to take my
leave of her, my confidence is greatly strengthened.
I am gratified to learn, that her ministers and members
are determined to advance her interests ; and that, at
the present time, many promising young men are turn-
ing away from other callings, and consecrating them-
selves to the vocation of the holy ministry. Truly, the
church is on the verge of an important crisis.
" The General Assembly will encourage, I hope, the
compilation and publication of a full history of the ori-
gin, progress and doctrines of the Cumberland Presby-
terian church.
" Our Confession of Faith, though not as perfect in
phraseology as it might be, yet has system and perfec-
tion enough to make us all think alike. This unity is
in accordance with the nature and tendencies of exper-
imental religion ; for our very system is founded upon
experimental religion. And while we maintain true
experimental religion, we will have a united church ;
but if we suffer her to cry l peace, peace, when there is
no peace,' and to ' daub with untempered mortar,' we
may expect to have division in our ranks.
" 1 would write more, but am too much enfeebled. I
can only say, in conclusion, dear brethren, ' I die, and
296 LIFE AND LABORS OF
G-od will surely visit you,' and help you to carry out
the great designs for which He has raised you up.
" By the grace of God, I feel like ' I have fought a
good fight ; I have finished my course ; I have kept the
faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto
all them also that love his appearing.'
" ROBERT DONNELL."
This letter was referred to a committee, and their
answer is here subjoined:
" Lebanon, Tbnn., May 19, 1855.
" Ever Dear and Venerable Brother : The Gen-
eral Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian church,
in session at Lebanon, Tennessee, having received your
highly esteemed favor, and appointed the undersigned
to report, we now enter on the interesting duty.